Final answer:
The first nutrient to be chemically digested is starch, a carbohydrate. It is digested by amylase in the mouth. Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins are micronutrients, whereas vitamins and minerals are macronutrients, required in smaller but essential amounts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nutrient Digestion
The first nutrient to be chemically digested is starch, which is a carbohydrate. Digestion of carbohydrates begins in the mouth with the enzyme amylase which is present in saliva. This starts the breakdown of starch into simpler sugars. It's worth noting that while carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins are micronutrients, vitamins and minerals are actually considered macronutrients. All classes of nutrients, including micronutrients and macronutrients, are essential to human survival, and your body requires them in larger amounts as they serve as the primary sources of energy and building blocks for cells.
Mistakenly, some sources may indicate that macronutrients are vitamins and minerals; however, this is not correct. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients, which the body requires in smaller amounts compared to macronutrients, yet they are still essential for numerous biological functions. For example, vitamins are organic compounds that our bodies need in small amounts to facilitate a variety of metabolic processes, while minerals are involved in a variety of tasks such as bone formation, maintaining a healthy heartbeat and making hormones.